CALGARY- For the second game in a row the University of Calgary Dinos went into double overtime to take the victory. Calgary defeated the University of Regina Cougars, 5-4, Friday evening, Nov. 25th at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary.
"We got off to a slow start. It was a defensive game and it took us some time to find our stride," explained Dinos double overtime hero, Danny Gayle. "It was good to get the first goal. We need to get more shots on net but we'll take the win."
Calgary looked to continue the momentum from Saturday, Nov.19th's shootout win going against Regina. It wasn't until just before the mid-way point of the first that the Dinos registered the first shot of the game.
The Dinos opened the scoring just six minutes later. Dylan Busenius fired a low shot on net from the point, Dylan Walchuk attempted to squeeze the rebound in but just as it was about to go wide Elgin Pearce notched his eighth goal of the season.
The Cougars weren't giving in easily, tying the game up just over a minute into the second period on the power play. Colton Sparrow fed Landon Peel a pass from the point, Peel stepped in and wired a wrist shot from the top of the circle past Dinos' goaltender Steven Stanford.
Regina would take its first lead of the game at the 7:30 mark of the middle frame again on the power play. Gray Marr curled in from the half wall towards the net before passing down low to Zach McPhee who snapped a quick shot just below Stanford's glove and in.
The Dinos tied the game up four minutes later off of the stick of Jared Hauf, (Logan Fisher and Cain Franson picked up helpers on the goal) before the Dinos added two more goals, all just over two minutes a part to increase their lead to 4-2.
Gayle explained that they have been playing from behind recently, "It's a good sign that if we do get down we have the composure to come back and get the lead back but moving forward we would like to get the lead and hold it for as long as possible."
The Cougars fought back. Tristan Frei cut the deficit to one before Logan Harland claimed his second of the season and tied the game once again. Marr pressured the Dinos defense, causing a turnover right in front of Stanford that Harland jumped on and put away through Stanford's five-hole.
"Way too loose of a game for us, especially in the second period," stated Gayle. "We take pride in our defensive game and we were just cheating on offense, the forward group especially. Going into tomorrow we really need to lock that down because letting in four goals in the second period and leaving our goalie out to dry isn't what we want."
With seven goals between the two teams in the second period, both Calgary and Regina played a more defensive third period, forcing the game into overtime and eventually double overtime.
Chris Collins hit Gayle with a cross ice pass, with just over a minute left in double OT, before entering the Cougars zone. Gayle beat one Cougar before going to his backhand and putting his third of the season through Cougars goaltender Andy Desautels five-hole.
"I turned up ice and knew I had some room, Collins hit me with the puck. I was originally going to shoot but Desautels really came over so I thought I would try and make a play and I was lucky enough that it worked out," said Gayle.
The two teams will face off again tomorrow afternoon, Nov. 26th. Puck is set to drop at two o'clock at the Father David Bauer Arena in Calgary.
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